You must have already seen, live or on TV, an athlete smelling a product before starting a match, competition or dispute, whatever the sport. Last Monday (1), the FDA — Food and Drug Administration, the US health agency — issued an alert for these inhalable substances that promise more energy for athletes.
It turns out that, in the vast majority of cases, these products contain ammonium salts, which can sometimes cause severe symptoms when inhaled.
What do ammonia salts offer athletes?
In practice, these products make people more alert, and athletes often inhale them to improve their performance. The gas irritates the membranes in the nose and throughout the respiratory system and causes an inhalation reflex, altering breathing patterns, increasing the flow of oxygen, providing a rush of adrenaline and making the person more “on”.
However, in its new advisory, the FDA points out a flip side to the gas: “Inhalation of ammonia can rapidly lead to eye, nose, and throat irritation; coughing; and airway constriction. The FDA has received reports of adverse events such as shortness of breath, seizures, migraines, vomiting, diarrhea and fainting.”
Depending on the inhaled dose, ammonia can burn the tissues of the nose, throat and windpipe; cause swelling and fluid buildup in the lungs and cause destruction of the airways, resulting in difficulty breathing or failure.
In its statement, the FDA encouraged healthcare professionals and consumers to report adverse events or quality issues as products have not been shown to be safe or effective for their intended uses.
“The company’s failure to promptly correct violations may result in legal action without notice, including, without limitation, seizure of the product and injunction.”
Source: FDA via Live Science
